Best fly spray?

montysmum1

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My poor chestnut is being driven wild by the flies at the moment (bays and black are fine?!)

I am currently using Naf Off (pink bottle) with added citronella oil, vinegar and lavendar oil, which seems to work for about 5 mins, but then he is plagued again!

What do you find works best and lasts longest?
 
I've recently discovered the naf off fly tags. Brilliant!

I used to think they were a gimmick but my horse is quite sensitive to flies and they definitely work. Supposed to last for 6weeks each, but I always pop mine back in the pack after riding then take it out again next time.
£10 for a pack of two, I've put one of his field fly mask and the other I keep for riding.
 
Power phaser is ace. My friend uses naf and her horses still getting bothered. Mine covered in phaser are being left alone. She asked me what is was as apparently whilst she was schooling my horse walked past and she could smell it coming off him! She's bought some too now.
 
I use either Naf deet or the citronella spray. Neither last very long but they do work for a short time. Power Phazer is great on horse flies but is not strong enough to stop them on my horse when hacking, nothing is. I have to ride at 5am if I want a sane horse
 
I don't know what is in Power Phazer but it causes me to get migranes even if I am just exposed to a small amount of it on someone else horse.

I am using a neem oil based one from stable environment and I think it is good and does not give me a headache.
 
I'll also put a vote in for Neem Oil, it does smell vile though!
The local tack shop also recommended BARRIER fly spray, and as it was the cheapest there I took her advice and it does seem to do better than the NAF one's I've used. On a side note, the BARRIER sheath cleanser is also astoundingly good!
:cool:
 
Phaser is not that good against horse flies, quite good against the Scottish midge though-contains DEET. Barrier Extra isn't bad (warning-if you suffer with hay fever it could set you off big time!) but second neem oil-preferably with bog myrtle.
 
I was told yesterday that equal parts of genuine vanilla essence and water works well, haven't tried it yet.
My lad came in covered in bumps which I covered in vinegar to take the itch away, partly serves him right, since he will insist on trashing fly rugs inside a week
 
Make own :)

Quick and cheap version:
Citronella oil, water and washing up liquid

Luxury version:
Citronella, lavender and tea tree essential oils, white vinegar, Avon SSS, washing up liquid, water.

:):)
 
Another vote for Barrier . . . Kal reacts to many of the others (sensitive little flower) and it has a coat conditioner in it too (avocado oil) so makes him shine which is a bonus :).

P
 
My recipe (filched from this very forum some years ago) is 250ml sso bath oil. 1 teaspoon each of eucalyptus oil, teatree oil, citronella and lavendar oil. 1 capfull of Dettol. Put in a litre spray bottle and top up with cold water.
Smells lovely, makes the coats shine and keeps flies off. You do need to shake the bottle well before using to mix theoils up.

I am going to buy the ingredients tomorrow to make this but where on the horses body do I spray?

Everywhere except eyes, and where the tack is going (if applying just before riding)

My horse is yellow bay so no white / pink bits on her.

Thanks
 
I've heard lots of good about Power Phaser - haven't yet tried it myself but ordered some earlier this week so hopefully will be with me soon!
 
I've found the best to be Lincoln Ditch the Itch and the Barrier spray. Neither make their coats greasy either, which some seem to do.
 
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